Adjustably mountable woodworker&#39;s vise



April 9, 1968 J- J. WATSON 3,377,061

ADJUSTABLY MOUNTABLE WOODWORKER S VI SE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR.

Jerry J. Wclrson Ap 196 J. J. WATSON 3,371,061

$3 I *7 Q\ 1-: -l' g ADJUSTABLY MOUNTABLE WOODWOPKER'S VISE Filed Feb.l7,, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.

' Jerry J.- Watson Attorney United States Patent 3,377,061 a ADJUSTABLYMOUNTABLE WOODWORKERS VISE Jerry J. Watson, Lombard, lll., assignor toWilton Corporation, Schiller Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois FiledFeb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,193

9 Claims. (Cl. 269-101) My invention is directed to vises and adjustableclamping devices adapted to be adjustably and removably mount ed on anyportion and on or at either of the ends of work benches or of other Worksupports.

Presently known vises which have angular projecting jaws have a singleapertured supporting and mounting plate connected to or integral withthe vice body which plate is securable to the edge or under side of abench. Such present vises with an angular jaw can only be secured at oneend of a work bench, and purchasers and users can only mount suchwoodworkers vise at one end of a bench and not on either of the benchends. This necessitates a user to purchase a left hand vise if securanceto the left end of a bench is required, and if securance to a rightbench end is desired, such user has-to purchase a differentlyconstructed bench vise so that the angular leg of the jaws will projectfrom the right end portion of a bench. This requires dealers anddistributors to buy and maintain an inventory of two kinds of vise-s ofdifferent construction, and increases the manufacturing costs of makingvises of different constructions for different installations.

Such present vises have only one flat supporting or base plate requiringits securance to a bench to only one position at one end of a bench andwhich said plates cannot be suitably secured to the opposite end of abench.

It is an object of my invention to provide novel adjustable vises andclamping devices which have stationary and movable jaws which are ofangular shape and in which the jaws have one portion thereof positionedto extend horizontally to receive work pieces from above and which jawshave another integral leg work engaging portion extending in a generallyvertical direction and beyond either end of a bench or work support; andwhereby one of said opposed jaw portions will extend outwardly relativeto the left end of a bench when the vise is mounted adjacent such leftend, and wherein the other of said jaw portions of the same vise willextend outward relative to the right end of a bench with the visemounted adjacent the right end of the bench, said jaw and grip-pingportions providing for gripping and holding long work pieces substantially vertically at either of the two ends of a bench to permitperformance of work upon the upwardly extending portion of said longpieces adjacent either end of a bench.

A'further object of my invention is the provision of two apertured andconnected mounting and supporting plates or webs on the body of viseswhich have their normally securable apertured faces at right angles toeach other, so

that when the vise is mounted at one end of a bench, only one of saidmounting members will be fiat against the underside of a bench top andsecurable thereto by bolts or screws, and when the vise is to be mountedat the opposite end of a bench, the other of said mounting plate faceswill be positioned and secured against the flat underside of the benchto be secured to the latter by bolts or screws.

A further object of my invention is the provision of vises which havetransversely extending jaw portions adapted to project beyond the endsof a bench and which have at least two mounting members or plates orwebs on the bodies of the vises 'angularly disposed relative to eachother to permit optional easy sccurance of the vises at either the rightend or at the left end of a bench, thereby providing for easy selectivechanging of position of such vises and for selective versatile mountingof the same vises in either left or right hand positions relative towork benches.

A further object of my invention is to eliminate the increased work andcost of manufacturing different types of woodworkers bench visesadaptable for securance to both ends of work benches and to eliminatethe necessity for dealers to stock two different vises to fulfill theditferent trade requirements.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my novel adjustable woodworkers visewhich is adjustably mountable in different positions.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view and partially elevationalview taken on a vertical plane indicated by the lines 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the stationary. jaw, taken on avertical plane, with parts in section and illutrating the vise securedon a left hand portion of a bench.

FIG. 4a is a partially elevational and partially cross sectional view ofmy novel vise illustrating same mounted in a different position on aright hand portion of a bench.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stationary jaw and body and mountingplate in one of two optional positions for selective securance.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 designates a passaged metal bodywhich has an integral flat faced stationally jaw 11 and a pair ofintegrally formed rea-rwardly extending base plates or mounting andsupporting plates 12 and 13 whose mounting faces are substantially atright angles to each other, as indicated in FIG. 5. Each of saidmounting plates 12 and 13 have a plurality of apertures 14 therein,preferably three in number, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The metal body 10 has a normally depending integrally formed aperturedextension 15, and a transversely extending apertured reinforcing web 16,having spaced apertures therein, is formed integrally with the mountingplates 12 and 13, as indicated in FIG. 5.

The stationary jaw 11 has two connected grippable portions, onegrippable portion 11a projecting beyond the plane of the mounting plate13 and being integral with the portion 11 of said jaw, as indicated inthe drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the front movable jaw has formedtherein two threaded recesses 38, each being inward of the straight edgeof the grippable portions of said jaw 19. A slotted dog or pawl 39,illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,-is slidably mounted on the outer faceof each of the two integral gripping portions of the movable jaw 19, asindicated in FIGS. 1 and 3. A knurled threaded screw 40 is threaded ineach of the two threaded recesses 38, and which is manually rotatable torelease said slidable dogs 39 or to secure it in either retractedposition or in outwardly projected position as indicated in dotted linesin FIG. 3. Each of said dogs 39 is slidably mounted and guided on ametal stud 41 whose inner end portion is suitably secured in the jaw 19,as illustrated in FIG. 3. Said dogs 39, when projected, provide a meansfor pressing and clamping relatively wide objects, such as doors orpanels, while the latter are supported on the workbench and when theiropposite edge portions engage a wall or other vertical stationary suppoNumeral 19 designates the metal movable jaw, which is generally ofright-angular shape and which has a relatively thicker angulara'pertured reinforcing portion 20 integrally formed. The downwardlyextending portion 20 of said jaw has a recess therein in which issecurely mounted one end of a guide'rod 21, and the opposite leg of saidjaw portion has a recess therein in which is securely mounted,preferably by means of a pin, one end of a guide rod 22.

The intermediate portion of said jaw 19 has an annular recessed passage23 formed therein, as indicated in FIG. 3, in which is journalled oneend portion of a sCreW or threaded spindle 24, shown in elevation inFIG. 3. Spindle 24 has an annular integral flange 25 thereon, as shownin FIG. 3, which seats in and rotates in the recess of the said passagein jaw 19. The adjacent end portion of the spindle or screw 24 hassecured on it a metal T-shaped fitting 26, preferably by means of ametal pin 27. A grippable handle 28 of conventional type is slidablymounted in the transverse passage of the T fitting 26, as indicated inthe drawings.

The passage 30 of the body 10 is internally threaded and said spindle orscrew 24 threadedly engages it and extends through an aperture 31 formedin the reinforcing web 16, and same has a suitable ring or washer 32secured thereon to limit the withdrawing and retracting movement of saidscrew and of said movable jaw.

The normally inner portion of the stationary jaw 11 has two apertures orpassages 33 therein in which the guide rods 21 and 22 are slidablymounted respectively, and said guide rods 21 and 22 are also slidablymounted in suitable holes 29 formed in spaced apart positions in the web16, as indicated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 1.

Two holes are formed in the upper portion of stationary jaw 11, andscrews 37 are adapted to be mounted therein to and in securing said jawto a work bench 39 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The mounting plates 12 and 13 provide means for optional and selectivealternative mounting of said vise at either the left or at the right endof a work support or work bench 39, this by means of a plurality of lagscrews or equivalent fastening elements which are partially illustratedin FIGS. 3, 4 and 4a. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the vice issuitably secured by screws 35 as indicated, at the left hand portion ofa work bench in such a way that the opposed vertically extendingportions of the stationary jaw and of the movable jaw will be open tothe left to quickly and easily receive longer vertically or upwardlydisposed work pieces.

Due to the wide variety of work bench installations and mountingsthereof, either adjacent to a wall or to other stationary objects, ordue to situations where the worker desires to have work pieces grippedadjacent the left hand portion of a bench, it is in such instancesdesirable to mount the said vise adjacent to and connected to the lefthand end of a work support or work bench, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In instances where it is necessary or desirable that the work pieces begripped and held at the right hand portion of a work bench or the like,the said described vise having my novel described features would beinstalled and secured in a position at the right hand end portion of awork bench as illustrated in FIG. 4a, and wherein the other of saidmounting plates would be secured against the bench and wherein theopposed vertically extending jaw portions (which in the previousinstallations were in horizontal position) would be open to the right toreceive and to clamp work pieces in various positions.

Among the advantageous and novel structural features of my describedvise are the novel means including the right-angled base supporting andmounting plates which provide for optional and alternative securance ofthe said vise either in a lefthand position, or in a righthand positionrelative to work benches and work supports, and this has the furtheradvantage of eliminating the additional cost of manufacturing twoseparate and different vise constructions in order to meet the variedmounting and installation requirements in the trade. This also providesthe further advantage that manufacturers, dealers and jobbers do nothave to carry in stock two separate kinds of vises to fulfill thedifferent requirements of customers and users. A further advantage isthe provision of a slidably mounted and selectively projectable dog onboth of the grippable portions of movable jaws of vises, this for thepurpose of releasably holding relatively wide and large objects indesired positions upon work supporting benches.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter, and it is contemplatedthat various changes may be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothingherein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its conceptor structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable woodworkers vise, a metal passaged body ofsubstantially right angled section and having mounting faces angularlydisposed relative to each other;

an apertured stationary jaw of right angled shape integral with saidbody;

a projecting re-iuforcing web integral with said body having spacedapertures therein;

an apertured movable jaw of right angled shape;

a spindle rotatably mounted in said movable jaw and threadingly engagingsaid stationary jaw;

and guide rods connected to said movable jaw and slidably engagingapertures of said web and of said stationary jaw;

one of said mounting faces being mountable at one end of a bench or thelike and the other of said mounting faces being securable to theopposite end of a bench.

2. An adjustably mountable vise as recited in claim 1 and in which eachof said jaws have two integral gripping portions at right angles to eachother so that one of said gripping portions of both said jaws will bemounted in opposed relation to receive and clamp vertically extendingwork pieces, while the other of said jaw gripping portions will extendtransversely to receive and clamp transversely extending work pieces.

3. An adjustably mountable woodworkers vise as recited in claim 2, inwhich one of said mounting faces is securable to one end portion of awork bench to thereby position one of the gripping jaw portions in avertical direction at one end of a bench;

and in which the other of said mounting faces is securable to theopposite end of a bench to position the other of said gripping jawportions adjacent such opposite end of said bench.

4. An adjustably mounted vise as recited in claim 2, in which saidmovable jaw has at least one slotted slidable s;

and a manually operable screw for selectively holding said dog in eitherretracted position or in projected position partially beyond the edge ofsaid jaw;

said jaw being adapted to aid in clamping large work pieces.

5. In an adjustable woodworkers vise, a metal body having a stationaryjaw of substantially rightangled shape in which one leg portion of saidjaw is adapted to project transversely and downwardly relative to theposition of the other leg portion thereof;

a movable jaw of substantially right-angular shape having guide meansand having one of its integral leg portions adapted to extend downwardlyrelative to the other of said jaw leg portions;

a rotatable screw journaled in said movable jaw and threadingly engagingsaid stationary jaw;

an apertured angular supporting plate formed integral with said bodyhaving two flat faces angularly disposed relative to each other toprovide for selective mounting of either of said plate angular faces toan under side of either end portion of a work bench;

one of said portions of said stationary jaw and of said movable jawbeing positionable and securable in transverse substantiallyhorizontally extending positions while the other of said jaw portions ispositionable in vertically extending positions adjacent to one end of awork bench, said vise being selectively securable at either end of awork bench, and guide rods on said movable jaw and slidably mounted insaid stationary jaw.

6. An adjustable vise as recited in claim 5, and having an adjustabledog slidable on one portion of said movable jaw and adapted to beprojected upwardly above the edge of said jaw to selectively engage andclamp wide work pieces.

7. An adjustable vise as recited in claim 5, charac- 2O terized by saidangular mounting plate being integral with said vise body and being ofsubstantially right angled shape.

8. An adjustable vise as recited in claim 5, and in which said guidemeans includes an apertured extension on said stationary jaw and inwhich said guide rods are connected to said movable jaw and slidablyengaging the apertures of said extension.

9. An adjustable vise as recited in claim 5, and having a secondselectively movable dog slidably mounted on the second connected portionof said movable jaw and in a position to be projected beyond the othergripping edge of said movable jaw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 382,360 5/1888 Hermann 269252 X1,489,110 4/1924 Billington 269-178 2,450,303 9/1948 Sasgen 269245ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. D. R. MELTON, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN AN ADJUSTABLE WOODWORKER''S VISE, A METAL PASSAGE BODY OFSUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLED SECTION AND HAVING MOUNTING FACES ANGULARDISPOSED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; AN APERTURED STATIONARY JAW OF RIGHTANGLED SHAPE INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY; A PROJECTING RE-INFORCING WEBINTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY HAVING SPACED APERTURES THEREIN; AN APERTUREDMOVABLE JAW OF RIGHT ANGLED SHAPE; A SPINDLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAIDMOVABLE JAW AND